Why is There No Cure for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?

by Jason on September 4, 2012

For many years, there has been hope of a cure for obsessive compulsive disorder. The medical community assumes there is no cure because OCD is a mental illness. Treatment for the illness is often by way of prescription drugs, and while medications can lessen the effects or even eliminate symptoms altogether in some cases, relief is only good while the drugs are taken.

Psychotherapy is the second established treatment for OCD, and it has been effective for many victims, but it also is only effective if the techniques are followed continually, and a lapse will promote the return of symptoms.

The Medical Community’s View

Physicians see OCD as a chronic illness like epilepsy or diabetes. They feel that the only way to have some amount of control is to work each day to manage the mental processes. For this reason, the vast majority of people who know they have OCD have given up hope of life without it and have settled for coping with symptoms the best way they can.

Treatments for OCD have shown that effectiveness is variable between individuals. The tandem of psychotherapy and medication is rather standard for advanced cases, but there is no guarantee that this will work every time. Realizing the potentially harmful side effects of drugs, many will not take the medications, even though they have difficulties functioning.

When Standard Solutions Don’t Work

Estimates project that between 25% and 40% of sufferers who have severe symptoms do not respond to either psychotherapy or medications. Coping with anxiety that causes OCD is difficult enough with some form of treatment, and without any structured defense, life is difficult for sufferers and the people around them.

Analysts often prepare their patients for coping and learning to deal with anxieties when the first defenses don’t work. Attitude is a large part of how a person is able to cope with anything in life. It has been shown that the person who can maintain a good mood in the face of OCD is more capable of coping.

A person’s self-esteem has much to do with surviving attacks of anxiety. This is what suffers a majority of the time when a person has a social anxiety disorder. Outside sources of friends and associates can help to build self-esteem and self-worth in an individual, which increases the defenses.

It has also been noted that people who have resources of time, money, and the support of friends can cope much better than the poor who have limited social support. A history of dealing with stress and surviving is another positive aspect of coping with OCD.

Even though the scientific community does not believe in a cure for obsessive compulsive disorder, there are people who have turned their lives around and lowered their stress and anxiety levels so OCD has lost some of its bite.

If you don’t want to hear the usual answers for what you must expect in a limited life experience, follow the link to a site that can help you find the cure for obsessive compulsive disorder. Don’t blindly follow the assumption that you can do no better than you are doing today. Reach for the answers that have helped thousands of sufferers, just like you.